Flushing plate for outboard motors



Oct. 10, 1961 H. E. CROZIER FLUSHING PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Feb. 2, 1960 HQROLDE CQoZ/E AT TORN EYS 3,003,456 FLUSHING PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTQRS Harold E. Crozier, 592 Birch, Hawthorne, Calif. Filed Feb. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 6,227 4 Claims. (Cl. 1l517) This invention relates generally to improved means for eflecting water circulation in the cooling passages of outboard motors for boats, and is directed particularly to a novel plate structure adapted to cover the motor body surface opening of such passage and capable of serving the dual functions of allowing limited water flow into the passage during normal usage of the motor, and of providing a threaded connector section for attachment to a base coupling for purposes of flushing out the circulation passage.

Particularly with respect to outboard motors operated in sea Water, the engine cooling passages from time to time may require flushing with fresh water, which is most conveniently introduced from a hose. It has been common practice to cast the motor bodies with an internal cooling water passage formed by a core which is removed through an opening in the side of the body, and to close the opening by a surface plate. The latter ordinarily has had no function other than as a closure, although the plate has been made removable to permit temporary substitution by another specially equipped and difi'erent from the present plate, for connection with a flushing water supply.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a single cover plate usable normally as such while allowing limited intake of water in which the motor is operating, and having a prepared connector or coupling section immediately available for connection with a hose, so that flushing may be accomplished with greatest convenience.

Specifically, the invention contemplates providing the plate with a threaded opening which is adapted to pass water into the circulation passage, and is readily available and accessible to receive the threaded pin section of a hose or like coupling for the introduction of flushing water.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional outboard motor with the circulating and connector plate applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a projective showing of the plate and a hose coupling positioned to be received therein.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the plate.

The showing of FIG. 1 typifies a conventional outboard motor generally indicated at 10, the body 11 of which has an internal cooling water circulation passage indicated by the dotted lines 12. of the usual nature, formed by casting the body about a core conforming to the passage shape, and which is withdrawn through a slot 13 in the side of the body, covered by the plate generally indicated at 14, the details of which appear in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Patented Oct. 10, 1961 F ICC The plate 14 may have the form of a metallic strip 15 containing a pair of counter-sunk openings 16 for the reception of screws or other fasteners which attach the plate to the motor body 11. The plate carries a tubular projection or boss 17 which is internally threaded to serve the dual functions of a normally open water induction passage and a connector section to receive the hose coupling 18. Preferably, the boss 17 projects from the inside of the plate so as to be received within the mouth of the circulation passage 12.

As indicated, it is preferred that during normal operation of the motor in water, the opening 19 in the boss 17 shall remain open so as to admit a limited intake of Water to the passage 12. When it is desired to flush out the circulation passages in the motor, as by fresh water with the motor landed, flushing operation can be conducted most simply because of preconditioning of the plate 14, by screwing into opening 19 the thread end 20 of coupling 18 carried by the hose 21, the coupling being shown typically to have a polygonal shank 22 for application of a wrench if needed.

I claim:

1. For use on a boat outboard motor the body of which has an internal cooling water circulation passage opening at a submerged surface of the body; a flushing device comprising an elongated relatively thin plate adapted to cover the passage surface opening, said plate including at its inside a tubular internally threaded projection adapted to enter the pass water into said passage during normal operation of the motor and to receive a threaded male fitting for introduction of flushing Water to the passage, said plate containing at opposite sides of said projection openings for the reception of threaded fasteners to attach the plate to the motor body, the outside of the plate presenting a substantially smooth surface when disconnected from said fitting.

2. A flushing device as defined in claim 1, in which said plate is in the form of a flat metallic strip.

3. The combination comprising a boat outboard motor body containing a cooling water circulation passage opening at a submerged surface of the body, and a relatively thin elongated plate secured to the body and covering the passage surface opening, the inside of said plate carrying an open tubular internally threaded projection received within and adapted to pass water into said passage during normal operation of the motor and to receive a threaded male fitting for introduction of flushing water to the passage, said plate containing at opposite sides of said projection openings for the reception of threaded fasteners to attach the plate to the motor body, the outside of the plate presenting a substantially smooth surface when disconnected from said fitting.

4. The combination of claim 3, in which said plate is in the form of a fiat metallic strip.

FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 OO3 456 October 10 1961 Harold E. Crozier It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 29 for "the" read and --o Signed and sealed this 3rd day of April 1962,

( SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents 

